Just after 2 a.m. on May 27, a local woman was murdered.
Emporia Police officers responded to a call for a woman bleeding at 211 Powell Street, according to Capt. Todd Anderson.

Officers found Karen Matie Bell (age 38), on the floor bleeding from a chest wound. She was transported to Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center, where she died.
At 8:45 a.m., officers arrested an acquaintance, Sean Bryant Toulson (age 38) of Emporia, in a wooded area alongside Yarrell Street (two blocks away).

Toulson has been charged with Murder (felony).
Detectives are continuing their investigation of this case under the direction of Chief Bernard Richardson and Commonwealth's Attorney Patricia Watson.

Bell's murder was the first one in Emporia since 2008 when Pryiasa Brown was killed.